WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1858
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southern pledges given to the Indians, and recorded here, at least, if not in Heaven; and I opposed that bill with all the indignation of an honest heart, and, at least, if I did not have the glory of a triumphant defeat of it, these were my objects. Now, that wall of partition is broken down, and what is the result? South of 36° 30' free soil has made its footprint, and where will it stop? Before it had a barrier at that point; but it has none now. I opposed it to prevent a conflict in future time; not to submit to an inglorious peace. My object was to preserve and to protect an honorable peace according to the compromise of 1850. This line had been established by the wisdom of wise men, and it ought to have remained a perpetual monument of peace and harmony. It should have had some manifest dedi# cation to it as a glorious memorial of an occasion that had trans- formed and given peace to the country. The repeal of that measure dissolved the harmony that existed in the country. It broke peace with the North. I thought that there was sufficient free soil preponderance before this region of the country was opened to its inroads, and as a southern man, I stood up against the repeal of the Missouri Compromise. Sir, I protest against gentlemen speaking of "my State," or "my section." I have heard it long enough. I will have none of it. I am a southern man; and no one has ever raised his arm, or bared his breast to give wider extension to its territory, or to vindicate its rights, more than I have done; and I am always ready to do it; but I have no war of words to bandy, I have no agitation to foster. Sir, I have heard too much in the council of nations about sections. The State from which I come was united with the American Union and confederated with sister States, .but she did not come in as a sectional appendage. I want to feel that this [is] a confederated community and nation, and that it must be preserved. Let us resolve to preserve the Union, and bestow the same pains, care, investigation, and research to give cement and stability to the Union that are now bestowed to create faction and discord, and we shall accomplish a work worthy of gods to contemplate. But factious proceedings are unworthy of men, unworthy of Senators, unworthy of patriots. I have not acted for a section. I will know no section. I am not going to encourage the fell spirit of discord; and when I can interpose an objection of mine to its progress, I will arrest it at the peril of my life. I wish it to be distinctly understood that there are more people in the South than the stntesmen and politicians who are seen in
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